Baji Rao I, commonly known as Bajirao Ballal, was the seventh Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, born as Visaji on 18 August 1700 and died on 28 April 1740.
During his 20-year tenure as a Peshwa, the Warrior defeated Nizam-ul-Mulk at several battles like the Battle of Palkhed and the Battle of Bhopal. Bajirao contributed to Maratha supremacy in southern India and northern India.
The love story of Bajirao Peshwa and Mastani had to be tested at every turn. Bajirao was a staunch Brahmin, but after his marriage to Mastani, at that time a large section of the Brahmins of Pune turned against him. These people were so angry with him that even the funeral ceremony of his and Mastani's son was not allowed. Jubeir Bahadur Josh, a descendant of Bajirao, says that Mastani's son's name was Krishnajirao. He was brought up according to Hindu customs.
Peshwa Bajirao was guided to the battle front at the age of 12 by his father, Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa of Chhatrapati Shahu. He soon became the leader and the field marshal extraordinaire to change the Maratha history. Bajirao had invited the pundits to get Krishnajirao's janeu done, but they created a ruckus on it. He said that he would not get the janeu done for the son born to a Muslim mother. Bajirao tried a lot to persuade him, but he did not agree.
Eventually, Bajirao asked Krishnaji Rao to adopt his mother's religion. Due to this, Krishnaji Rao became Shamsher Ali Bahadur. Josh says that if at that time the pundits had made Krishnaji's janeu, then we would all be Hindus.
The Battle of Palkhed was one of his greatest clashes which was fought against Nizam-Ul-Mulk. Peshwa's innovative warfare tactics was acclaimed by the world and a huge amount of armory was left by the Nizam, who fled in bustle. A senior British General, Bernard Montgomery called Bajirao's victory at Palkhed as a "masterpiece of strategic mobility".
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